Sony has already provided PS5 gamers with a decent pair of cans with the Pulse 3D headset, but the INZONE range aims to elevate the audio experience even further. With three choices, the Sony INZONE H9 is the crème de la crème, delivering all the bells and whistles while looking and feeling the part.
But what makes the H9 so special? What kind of features does it come with? And does the £269 entry price take away some of the shine? We’ve been testing the INZONE H9 for the past two weeks, so let’s continue with our hands-on impressions.
What is the Sony INZONE H9?
The Sony INZONE H9 is a pair of noise canceling headphones that will go well with your PS5. Like the Sony INZONE M9 that we also reviewed, it comes with a sleek black and white design and a host of high-end features. These features of course include Bluetooth connectivity via USB dongle, noise and ambient noise cancellation, 360 spatial audio and overall a premium and comfortable build quality.
As mentioned, the H9s will set you back £269 here in the UK – $299.99 in the US – and while, yes, it’s certainly a good chunk higher than Sony’s other headset, the Pulse 3D, it’s pretty in line with most other noise canceling headphones. Although the INZONE range comes with the cheaper H3 and H7, they lose some of those attractive features like wireless connectivity, and the build quality drops.
On paper, the H9 is certainly a step up from most other gaming headsets, and with its link-up design and 360 spatial audio, it should be the perfect addition to your PS5 setup.
What’s in the box?
Opening the box, the H9 has virtually no system requirements. You will immediately notice the headset itself as well as the USB which will turn on once you connect it to your PS5. In the box you will also find a USB-C cable for charging. That’s literally it. It’s straight to the point, and you can up your audio game within a minute of opening the box.
Build quality and hardware features
As soon as you put on your H9s, you’ll feel the cozy embrace of a quality pair of headphones. The leather padding in the ear cups and headband is plush and comfortable, and can significantly reduce outside noise, long before noise cancellation is even activated.
Along the sides you have access to a volume slider, a balancer between game chat and party chat, a Bluetooth connectivity button, a switch between noise canceling and ambient noise, and of course the power button. ‘feed. Buttons have never been easier to differentiate and never felt exactly in the right place compared to the Pulse 3D, which has much more easily accessible controls. However, the H9s compensate for this with a physical rotating boom mic, which lets you pull the mic down to talk, then push it up to mute it. It’s perfect for any gamers who have been caught off guard singing in a hall full of captive audiences.
The adjustable and pivoting arms provide an extremely comfortable gaming experience, and even after hours and hours of gaming, you’ll still feel just as comfortable with the H9s on your head. This shows off the H9’s impressive battery life, which Sony says is 32 hours without noise cancellation. During our review period, we never experienced any battery anxiety and were able to charge the headset casually whenever we had the chance. Wearing the H9s for long periods revealed a looseness compared to other headsets. Even at the tightest, any sudden movement or sneeze would often cause the H9 to slip off our head. For comparison, this has never happened to us with the Pulse 3D.
An additional feature that will definitely elevate the H9 above other headsets for some, is its ability to connect wirelessly to the PC. Many other headsets like the Pulse or Razer Kaira can only connect wirelessly to the PS5, but here a simple switch to USB will make it work just as well. There’s an INZONE app to customize your audio experience, and that’s definitely recommended, as the default settings on PC weren’t quite the same as on PS5. When it worked, it was nice to have a comfortable pair of wireless headphones for PC, but we encountered digital interference and occasional disconnections – two things that weren’t present on the PS5.
The audio experience
Coming from the Pulse 3D headset, we were blown away by the immediately noticeable upgrade in sound quality. The noise cancellation for one is completely captivating, and any noisy game will ensure that hardly any sound from the outside world penetrates. If that’s not quite your thing, Ambient Sound Mode lets you pick up outside sounds, while still getting that high-quality sound.
The sound itself is truly sublime. Deep bass shooters like Modern Warfare 2 were incredibly immersive as you felt virtually every gunshot and explosion. 360-degree spatial audio meant we were pretty often saved just because we could hear enemies before we could see them, allowing the audio to actively improve our performance, not just our immersion.
However, if big explosions aren’t quite your thing, the noise cancellation meant games like The Last Of Us Part 1 benefited from the smaller audio details. Grasshoppers nearby, planks creaking, horses snapping claws felt alive and real thanks to the H9.
Should you buy the Sony INZONE H9?
The Sony INZONE H9 is an incredibly immersive headset that will undoubtedly enhance your gaming experience, whatever the game. will allow you to play for hours while barely noticing it on your head. The ability to connect to the PC is also a welcome addition, giving the H9 better value for money. However, this quickly proves that this is a headset cut out for the PS5.
If you’re looking for a more expensive headset, we can barely recommend the H9. Unlike the M9 monitor which struggled to justify its higher price tag, the H9 is a get what you pay for affair, and in this example, it’s worth every penny.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC disclosure for more information.
What do you think of Sony’s INZONE H9 headphones? Do you like a quality pair of cans while you play? Mute the rest of the world in the comments section below.
